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DALLAS — Even just going where he is told, Mathieu Schneider is creating another problem for the Vancouver Canucks. He also stands to collect a $250,000 US bonus payment on Jan. 15.

The 40-year-old defenceman, who cleared waivers Wednesday after leaving the National Hockey League team, reported Sunday to the Canucks’ minor-league affiliate in Winnipeg. The re-assignment of Schneider, whom the Canucks were unable to trade or place with another organization, puts the Manitoba Moose one veteran over the American Hockey League limit of five and coach Scott Arniel will have to sit out a player to make room for the defenceman.

But by reporting, Schneider continues to collect his NHL base salary of $1.55 million, which includes a $1 million signing bonus divided over four payments.

Schneider received the first $250,000 instalment in September. The second payment is due Jan. 15. His actual salary is $550,000 US, but the NHL requires signing bonuses to be included as salary.

The American has made $44 million since his debut for the Montreal Canadiens in 1988.

The Canucks and Schneider split last week over irreconcilable differences stemming from his unhappiness about a limited role in Vancouver and the adverse effect this disenchantment had on his attitude.

Even after losing Kevin Bieksa to a possibly-season-ending leg injury the day Schneider was waived, Canuck coach Alain Vigneault is emphatic that he won’t take back the defenceman.

It’s classic addition by subtraction. The Canucks feel they are better without Schneider.

But how might Schneider’s attitude impact the Moose and younger players trying to improve and make the NHL?

“You just hope people have the integrity to be stand-up people,” Canuck assistant general manager Laurence Gilman said Sunday. “My sense is he’s reporting because he still wants to play hockey. He has made enough money in his career. He’s not going to go there just to collect a $250,000 signing bonus.”

The Canucks were probably hoping Schneider would simply retire. GM Mike Gillis, Schneider’s former agent, helped make his client wealthy and was the main proponent behind the veteran’s free-agent signing last summer. Schneider, who made $5.75 million last season, agreed Aug. 28 to a one-year deal with the Canucks.

BLUE-LINE SHUFFLE: Vigneault said defenceman Aaron Rome, who went to sixth from eighth on the depth chart in one day, retains his new status after Brad Lukowich cleared re-entry waivers on Saturday. Lukowich, a 10-year veteran whose $1.8-million paycheque as a depth player didn’t fit the Canucks’ salary cap when the season began, joins the team for practice today in Vancouver.

Rome logged 16:09 of ice time in Saturday’s 3-1 win in Dallas, nearly six minutes more than he played Thursday upon his return to the lineup in St. Louis.

“No doubt when you’re playing, you do feel more part of things,” Rome, 26, said. “I felt better than the last game. You try to stay ready as much as you can. But when you’re not playing, it’s tougher for sure. When you go in, you just want to keep it simple and make easy plays and I felt like I’ve done that.”

The Canucks expect they’ll know in about a week how long Bieksa will be out. He underwent surgery Thursday to repair muscle and tendon carved open by a skate blade last Tuesday in Phoenix. A similarly freak injury two years ago cost Bieksa 47 games.

HAMMERIN’ HANK: Henrik Sedin’s two assists in Dallas lifted him into a tie for the NHL scoring lead until Joe Thornton picked up two points in the San Jose Sharks’ 4-1 win Saturday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

With 55 points in 42 games, Sedin is on pace for 107 points — 35 above his career best. Brother and linemate Daniel Sedin is on pace for 80 points despite missing 18 games with a foot injury last fall.

“I can’t put a finger on it,” Henrik said. “As I’ve said before, it’s progress, I think, over a lot of years. It’s not like it was just over a summer or two. We’ve always said we want to get better every summer because [training is] when you get better. I think we worked extremely hard together. We’re confident when we step on the ice.”

Daniel is so confident, he now sets up Canuck goals by opposition players. He banked Saturday’s winner off Dallas defenceman Trevor Daley, one game after sparking Vancouver’s three-goal comeback in St. Louis with a billiard shot off the Blues’ Roman Polak.

Sedin’s turnover late in the second period preceded Canuck Christian Ehrhoff’s delay-of-game penalty, which led to the Stars’ game-tying goal by Loui Eriksson.

“It was very fortunate for him that he scored that go-ahead goal,” Vigneault smiled. “He would have had one upset coach at him.”

He probably did, anyway, during the second intermission.

imacintyre@vancouversun.com

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Former Canuck Mathieu Schneider heeds Moose call just in time to collect $250,000

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